The French film star had wanted her funeral to be without fanfare - but locals wanted to pay her a proper adieu.

A safety prayer ceremony was held ahead of the construction of giant snow sculptures at the Odori site, one of the main venues of the 76th Sapporo Snow Festival, which opens in Sapporo, Hokkaido, on February 4th. (News On Japan)

The US has announced the seizure of two oil tankers: the Marinera formerly known as the Bella 1 in the North Atlantic and the Sophia in international waters near the Caribbean.

At least 12 people have reportedly been killed in the city, where the army is demanding Kurdish fighters leave two neighbourhoods.

The ships were boarded by US forces in predawn operations in the North Atlantic and the Caribbean Sea.

Both Greenland and its owner Denmark have repeatedly stressed the island was not for sale.

Israel says Volker Türk's office makes "absurd" accusations in a report that details what the UN calls "systemic discrimination" against Palestinians.

Chen Zhi is charged with turning his business into a front for fraud hubs that stole from people around the world.

The White House says it is considering a range of options to take the island, including deploying the military.

The power cut was caused by a suspected arson attack and came as temperatures dipped below freezing.

The power cut was caused by a suspected arson attack and came as temperatures dipped below freezing.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announces talks amid concerns over US claims to the Danish territory.

Graffiti has been discovered on a bamboo grove near Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto, a popular area that draws large numbers of tourists to the shrine’s famed Senbon Torii gates. (News On Japan)

More than a day after a strong earthquake struck Tottori and Shimane prefectures on January 6th, with a maximum seismic intensity of upper 5, disruptions including water outages are still affecting local communities. (News On Japan)

Economic circles in Japan are growing increasingly uneasy after the Chinese government announced a blanket ban on exports to Japan of dual-use goods that could be diverted for military purposes, raising concerns that rare earths could be included in the scope of the restrictions. (News On Japan)

The comments come after the UK and France said they would deploy troops to Ukraine if a peace deal with Russia is agreed.

The US Coast Guard boarded two "ghost fleet" tanker ships in a "meticulously coordinated" operation, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said.

General Javier Marcano Tábata was the commander of the inner circle of guards tasked with protecting Maduro.

More than 700 flights were cancelled at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport alone on Wednesday.

More than 700 flights were cancelled at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport alone on Wednesday.